Japan's legendary and fierce samurai warriors have an unrelenting hold on the public's imagination. The world's most renowned expert on these fierce fighters provides an exceptional, in-depth look at the samurai's unique combat skills and weaponry. Confront charismatic warlords and lone mercenaries as Dr. Turnbull examines battlefield tactics, personalities and practices, finding fascinating comparisons between the samurai and other medieval fare. Rare historic illustrations and specially commissioned paintings by Richard Hook bring you face to face with some of the planet's most terrifying battle scenes. 160 pages (53 color illus., 80 b/w illus., 7 1/2 x 9 1/2.

Dr Stephen Turnbull has made himself the world's expert on the Samurai, using his years of diligent research to publish a whole series of bestselling Samurai histories. He is widely employed as a consultant authority on Japanese history and religion.